Lituania

The book Liber chronicarum (The Book of Chronicles), also called The Nuremberg Chronicle after the place of its publication, is an illustrated paraphrase of the Bible, which gives the history of mankind and presents the most important European cities. It was written by the German doctor, humanist and historian Hartmann Schedel (1440–1514), and was published in 1493 by the goldsmith Anton Koberger, the founder of the first publishers in Nuremberg. This is an incunabulum, one of the first printed books illustrated with hand-coloured woodcuts. The skilful illustrations were made by the famous Nuremberg artist Michael Wolgemut (1434/7–1519) and his stepson Wilhelm Pleydenwurff (1460–1494). The capital of Lithuania is presented in Liber chronicarum as a Renaissance city situated on water, surrounded by a strong wall with many towers, with a church crowned by a dome and a tall bell tower. This is not a real view of Vilnius, but a notional and general vision of the city, based on the example of Italian cities. The specific character of individual cities was of little concern to publishers at the time: the same woodcut was used in the book to illustrate other cities as well, such as Marseilles. However, the most important point is that this publication in the late 15th century ranks Vilnius among other major European cities.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album LITUANIA IN ATLANTIBUS (2011). Text author Algimantas Muzikevičius, VILNIUS. TOPOPHILIA I (2014). Compiler and author Laima Laučkaitė
Expositions: "Vilnius Time", 5 June 2023 – 1 May 2024, Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curators Ieva Burbaitė and Emilija Vanagaitė.

The book Liber chronicarum (The Book of Chronicles), also called The Nuremberg Chronicle after the place of its publication, is an illustrated paraphrase of the Bible, which gives the history of mankind and presents the most important European cities. It was written by the German doctor, humanist and historian Hartmann Schedel (1440–1514), and was published in 1493 by the goldsmith Anton Koberger, the founder of the first publishers in Nuremberg. This is an incunabulum, one of the first printed books illustrated with hand-coloured woodcuts. The skilful illustrations were made by the famous Nuremberg artist Michael Wolgemut (1434/7–1519) and his stepson Wilhelm Pleydenwurff (1460–1494). The capital of Lithuania is presented in Liber chronicarum as a Renaissance city situated on water, surrounded by a strong wall with many towers, with a church crowned by a dome and a tall bell tower. This is not a real view of Vilnius, but a notional and general vision of the city, based on the example of Italian cities. The specific character of individual cities was of little concern to publishers at the time: the same woodcut was used in the book to illustrate other cities as well, such as Marseilles. However, the most important point is that this publication in the late 15th century ranks Vilnius among other major European cities.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album LITUANIA IN ATLANTIBUS (2011). Text author Algimantas Muzikevičius, VILNIUS. TOPOPHILIA I (2014). Compiler and author Laima Laučkaitė
Expositions: "Vilnius Time", 5 June 2023 – 1 May 2024, Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curators Ieva Burbaitė and Emilija Vanagaitė.